Jinghua, a slave in Kipchak Khanate, finds herself the unlikely ally in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his father across the Mongol Empire when Kipchak is invaded and overrun. Seeing her chance to escape to freedom, Jinghua hatches a plan to return home--a plan put in jeopardy by her developing feelings for Khalaf, who himself is seeking marriage to the Great Khan's daughter, Turandokht, whose suitors must either solve three impossible riddles or die.